IJST (2012) A3: 231-237

Iranian Journal of Science & Technology

http://www.shirazu.ac.ir/en

Two new species of Arbacioid echinoids (genus Goniopygus) from the

Aptian sediments of Baghin area (Kerman, Iran)
M. R. Vaziri* and A. L. Arab
Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
E-mail: Vazirimohammadreza@yahoo.com

Abstract

Two new species of an Arbacioid echinoid, genus Goniopygus, are reported for the first time from Aptian
sediments of Baghin area, Kerman, Iran. The main features of the species lie in apical disc and peristome
diameter. In Goniopygus triangularis sp. nov., the periperoct is triangular in shape with three small, sunken
tubercles, located alternatively adjacent to the periperoct, while Goniopygus annularis sp. nov. is characterized by
having a circular periperoct without any sunken tubercle. Also, Goniopygus triangularis has a wider peristome
than Goniopygus annularis. In both species sexual dimorphism is not conspicuous. They lived in restricted to low
- moderate energy environments.

Keywords: Echinoids; Goniopygus; Cretaceous; Kerman; Iran

1. Introduction shaly limestone (Fig. 2) with an abundant benthic

Although echinoids are among the most
conspicuous and diverse constituents of marine
invertebrate faunal elements of the Aptian
sediments in Baghin area, very few studies have
been published on this subject [1, 2]. The echinoid
fauna of Baghin comprises Stomechinidae,
Emiratiidae, Pygaulidae, Holectypidae, Saleniidae,
Cidaridae, Hemiasteridae, Toxasteridae and
Acropeltidae. The family Acropeltidae is a
Stirodont arbacioid echinoid which has a fossil
record extending back to the Jurassic and is
distinguished from other arbacioids by its perianal
tubercles [3]. The genus Goniopygus is a member
of this family, ranging from Upper Jurassic to
Eocene and a well documented distribution in
America, Europe and Asia [3-5]. Description of
Iranian material will improve current knowledge
about the genus and help compare it with specimens
reported from other parts of the world.
2. Geological setting and stratigraphy
The two new species, Goniopygus triangularis and
Goniopygus annularis, described here, have been
collected from Aptian strata that crop out of the
Baghin area, west of Kerman city (Fig. 1). The
Aptian sediments of Baghin consist mainly of an
alternation of green marls and thin layers of yellow
*Corresponding author
Received: 31 May 2011 / Accepted: 19 May 2012
foraminifera (Orbitolina), brachiopods, oysters,
bivalves, gastropods and corals, most of which
confirm an Aptian age for the sediments. Echinoids
are also among the most conspicuous and diverse
constituents of the Aptian fauna of Baghin area,
represented by Stomechinidae, Emiratiidae,
Pygaulidae, Holectypidae, Saleniidae Cidaridae,
Hemiasteridae, Toxasteridae and Acropeltidae,
among which the two latter are dominant groups of
the assemblage. The marls are covered by a gray,
bioturbated, and thick-bedded limestone, relatively
barren of macroinvertebrates.
3. Materials and methods
To study Goniopygus triangularis and Goniopygus
annularis, eighteen specimens have been collected
from green marls of Baghin area. The material
includes some crushed, distorted, imperfect, or
weathered individuals. Well-preserved specimens
were cleaned, using a mild detergent and whenever
necessary by using an ultrasonic vibrator and a
preparation needle. In order to study apical disc, a
light binocular microscope was used.
The material used in this study is housed in the
Paleontology Laboratory of Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Iran.
Systematic paleontology
Class: Echinoidea Leske, 1778
Cohort: Regularia Letreille, 1825
IJST (2012) A3: 231-237
Order: Arbacioida Gregory, 1900
Family: Acropeltidae Lambert & Thiery, 1924
Genus: Goniopygus L. Agassiz, 1838
Type Species: Goniopygus triangularis Vaziri &
Arab sp. nov. (Fig. 3)
Etymology: (Latin triangularis) refers to the
triangular shape of the periperoct.
Material: Three well- preserved specimens.
Occurrence: The species occurs in the Aptian
sequence of Baghin area.
Diagnosis: Test is dome-shaped, 16 to 20 mm in
diameter and nearly 11 to 11.5 mm in height,
flattened below and subconical adapicaly. Nine or
ten primary tubercles in each interambulacrum
column, arranged in regular series throughout. The
peristome is very large and circular in outline,
approximately 63-72.5 % of the test diameter, and
has moderately sharp notches. The greatest
ambulacrum width is 20% of the test diameter.
Ambulacral plates are compound, trigeminate
adapically and adorally, but quadrigeminate at the
ambitus. Pore pairs are uniserial and two pores are
separated from each other by a raised interporal
knob. The periperoct is triangular in shape and is 2
to 2.7 mm in diameter, corresponding to 12.5-
14.5% of the test diameter. Apical disc dicyclic,
thick and forming a raised platform. The genital
plates pentagonal, together form a five-pointed star,
and the gonopores are at the outer points. Three of
the genital plates are represented as having a
tubercle on the inner edge adjacent to the periproct.
Ocular plates are smaller and projecting. Tubercles
imperforate and non-crenulate. Interambulacral
plates a little wider than tall, with a large primary
tubercle on each. Peristome is rounded in outline
and very slightly sunken.
Type Species: Goniopygus annularis Vaziri & Arab
sp. nov. (Fig. 3)
Etymology: (Latin annularis) referring to the
circular shape of the periperoct.
Material: Four well- preserved specimens.
Occurrence: The species occurs in the Aptian
sequence of Baghin area.
Diagnosis
This species differs from G. triangularis in the
following counts. In G. annularis peristome is
relatively small, 54-56.5% of the test diameter,
while in G. triangularis the peristome is very large,
63-72.5% of the test diameter. Secondly, the
periperoct outline of G. triangularis is triangular,
having three sunken tubercles located alternatively
adjacent to three genital plates. In G. annularis the
periperoct is circular and there are no sunken
tubercles. Thirdly, in G. annularis the test is
232
hemispherical in profile, whereas in G. triangularis
the profile of the test is rather domed.
Camera lucida drawings and biometric data on G.
triangularis and Goniopygus annularis are shown
in Figs. 3 and 4.
4. Results and discussion
a) Comparative remarks
The number and location of the tubercles on the
genital plates have been regarded as generic
features in the family of Acropeltidae [3]. For
example, Acropeltis aequituberculata, which is a
genotype of Acropeltis has one large tubercle near
the center of each genital plate, while in many
species of genus Goniopygus the tubercles lie at the
edge of the genital plates. Goniopygus annularis
shows many features in common with other species
of the genus Goniopygus, except that none of its
genital plates has sunken tubercles. The absence of
sunken tubercles in Goniopygus annularis is a new
character that is reported for the first time from the
genus, and implies that restriction of Goniopygus to
species having sunken tubercles on genital plates
should be revised. The shape of the periperoct is
also a main character in distinguishing the different
species of the genus Goniopygus. The most
conspicuous difference between G. annularis and
the other species of the genus lies in the shape of
the periperoct. The periperoct outline in G.
annularis is circular, while those of the other
species are triangular, subcircular, quadrangular or
subpentagonal. This difference suggests that
Goniopygus annularis is a new species of the
genus. Goniopygus annularis is nearly similar to G.
peltatus, but differs from it in having no sunken
tubercles in the margin of the periproct, and also by
having a circular instead of subpentagonal
preperoct.
Goniopygus triangularis is very similar to G.
zetteli Clark. In both species, three genital plates
have a sunken tubercle at their inner edge, adjacent
to the preperoct. In G. zetteli the tubercles are
located next to each other, whereas in G.
triangularis there are small but well developed
sunken perianal tubercles on genital plates 1, 3 and
5.
This condition distinguishes these two species
from each other. It differs from G. menardi
(Desmarest, 1825) by having wider peristome and a
subconical test instead of subspherical profile. It
comes closest to G. whitneyi from the early Albian
[6]. G.triangularis is distinguished, however, by
having a wider peristome.
233 IJST (2012) A3: 231-237

Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of the Baghin area. Black stars show localities, from
where Goniopygus triangularis and Goniopygus annularis have been collected

Fig. 2. Schematic lithological succession of Aptian strata in Baghin area

IJST (2012) A3: 231-237 234

Fig. 3. Camera lucida drawings of Goniopygus triangularis sp. nov. and G. annularis sp. nov. from Aptian sediments of
Baghin area; a-c, G. triangularis: a, adapical b, adoral and c, lateral views; d-f, G. annularis: d,
adapical e, adoral and f, lateral views. Scale bar represents 1 cm

Fig. 4. Graphic plot of test diameter versus peristome diameter for seven specimens
of G. triangularis and G. annularis from Aptian sediments of Baghin area
235
b) Paleogeography
Iranian plate is a part of Tethyan region. In other
words, its geology, tectonic style and connection
with other areas is directly influenced by the
development and history of the region. According
to Stocklin [7] and Berberian and King [8] the
following major structural zones can be
distinguished throughout the Iranian plate: Folded
Zagros, High Zagros, Sanandaj-Sirjan Ranges,
Central Iran, Alborz Mountains, Kopet Dagh, Lut
Block, and East Iran/Markran Ranges. The Baghin
area is located at the Central Iranian zone. Although
the echinoid fauna recovered from the Baghin area
is relatively diverse and abundant, it displays a high
degree of endemism, comprising a high percentage
of species unknown from other regions. It suggests
the existence of a discrete biogeographic entity,
influenced from adjacent bioproviences, which is
documented by an even proportion of shared
species. The paleogeographic map of central Iran
through Barremian to Albian is shown in Fig. 5 [9].
c) Paleoecology
The echinoid community of Baghin area is
composed of Stomechinidae, Emiratiidae,
Pygaulidae, Holectypidae, Cidaridae,
Hemiasteridae, Toxasteridae and Acropeltidae (Fig.
6), among which the latest is represented by two
new species; Goniopygus annularis and G.
triangularis.
In contrast to some species of the genus, such as
Goniopygus heberti and G. minor, which possess
strong oral phyllodes and live within the uppermost
few meters of water column [10], both Goniopygus
annularis and G. triangularis lack phyllodes, thus
being restricted to low to moderate energy
environments and an omnivorous lifestyle [11].
Both forms presumably feed on algae, bryozoans
and other small invertebrates. Such animals usually
prefer stable sedimentary bottoms [12].
d) Sexual dimorphism
Goniopygus annularis and G. triangularis have
been examined from the viewpoint of sexual
dimorphism as well. This is important because
sexual dimorphism has been reported in two
Cretaceous arbacioid echinoids, Goniopygus royoi
Lambert and G. minor Sorignet. According to Kier
[13] three types of sexual dimorphism have been
recognized in fossil echinoids: 1. presence of
marsupial, 2. larger genital pores in females, and 3.
larger and differently shaped genital plates in
specimens considered to be females. Although
IJST (2012) A3: 231-237
Goniopygus royoi and G. minor show a deep
depression in the interambulacra at the edge of the
genital plate, which seems to be a marsupium
(Lambert, 1928), the studied specimens lack this
depression (Fig. 7). This fact, along with the equal
size of genital pores and also similarity in the shape
of the genital plates, all suggest that sexual
dimorphism is not conspicuous in Goniopygus
annularis and G. triangularis.
5. Conclusions
a) A rich and diverse echinoid fauna, consisting of
Stomechinidae, Emiratiidae, Pygaulidae,
Holectypidae, Saleniidae, Cidaridae, Hemiasteridae
Toxasteridae and Acropeltidae is present in the
Aptian sediments of the Baghin area, west of
Kerman.
b) Two new arbacioid echinoids, Goniopygus
triangularis and G. annularis are reported from this
region for the first time.
c) The high endemism ratio of the fauna suggests
the existence of a discrete biogeographic entity
during the deposition of the strata in Baghin area.
d) Paleontological investigations indicate that both
Goniopygus triangularis and G. annularis were
relatively deep water organisms, living in low to
moderate energy environments. They were
omnivores and fed on algae, bryozoans, and small
invertebrates.
e) The equal size of the gonopores and identical
shape of the genital plates in different individuals
allows us to conclude that Goniopygus triangularis
and G. annularis were not sexually dimorphic.
Acknowledgments
The authors are deeply indebted to professor Loïc
Villier, Université de Provence, France for his
guidance and constructive discussion during the
course of study. Special thanks to individuals who
have helped to collect Goniopygus triangularis and
G. annularis from Baghin area, including J. Hasani,
M. Derisi, S. Jaber and M. Rami.
IJST (2012) A3: 231-237 236

Fig. 5. Paleogeographic map of the world in Barremian-Aptian and location of

Central Iran at the margin of Eurasia, Modified from Glennie (9)

Fig. 6. Relative abundance of the echinoids of the Baghin area

237
Fig. 7. A, B, C, Goniopygus triangularis sp. nov., KUIC 12034; adapical, adoral and lateral views. D, E, F, Goniopygus
annularis sp. nov., KUIC 12039; adapical, adoral and lateral views, from Aptian of Baghin area. Scale bar represents 1 cm
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